How slowly time creeps till my Phoebe returns!
While amidst the soft zephyr's cool breezes I burn.
Methinks if I knew whereabouts he would tread,
I could breathe on his wings and 'twould melt down the lead.
Fly swifter, ye minutes, bring hither my dear,
And rest so much longer for 't when she is here.
- A Pastoral [Time]

When things were as fine as could possibly be
I thought 'twas the spring, but alas it was she.
- A Pastoral [Love]

Rose, what is become of thy delicate hue?
And where is the violet's beautiful blue?
Does aught of its sweetness the blossom beguile?
That meadow, those daisies, why do they not smile?
- A Pastoral (st. 8) [Flowers]

Take time enough: all other graces
Will soon fill up their proper places.
- Advice to Preach Slow [Preaching]

I love my neighbor as myself,
Myself like him too, by his leave,
Nor to his pleasure, power or pelf
Came I to crouch, as I conceive.
Dame Nature doubtless has designed
A man the monarch of his mind.
- Careless Content [Mind]

With good and gentle-humored hearts
I choose to chat where'er I come
Whate'er the subject be that starts.
But if I get among the glum
I hold my tongue to tell the truth
And keep my breath to cool my broth.
- Careless Content [Conversation]

With more of thanks and less of thought,
I strive to make my matters meet;
To seek what ancient sages sought,
Physic and food in sour and sweet,
To take what passes in good part,
And keep the hiccups from the heart.
- Careless Content [Contentment]

Some say, compared to Bononcini,
That Mynheer Handel's but a ninny;
Others aver, that he to Handel
Is scarcely fit to hold a Candle:
Strange all this difference should be,
'Twixt Tweedle-dum and Tweedle-dee!
- Epigram [Comparison]

Some say, that Seignior Bononchini
Compar'd to Handel's a mere Ninny;
Others aver, to him, that Handel
Is scarcely fit to hold a candle.
Strange! that such high Disputes shou'd be
'Twixt Tweedledum and Tweedledee.
- Epigram on the Feuds between Handel and Bononcini,
as given in the "London Journal"
[Comparison]

Bone and Skin, two millers thin,
Would starve us all, or near it;
But be it known to Skin and Bone
That Flesh and Blood can't bear it.
- Epigram on Two Monopolists [Hunger]

Christians awake, salute the happy morn
Whereon the Saviour of the world was born.
- Hymn for Christmas Day [Christmas]

God bless the King--I mean the faith's defender;
God bless (no harm in blessing) the pretender;
But who the pretender is, or who is King--
God bless us all--that's quite another thing.
- Miscellaneous Pieces [Royalty]